Planning and Zoning debate won’t happen tonight

MIDDLETOWN >> As the Democratic primary to determine candidates for the Planning and Zoning Commission looms nearer, a challenging candidate tried to organize a debate, but to no avail.

Stephen Devoto had taken steps with the help of Republican Common Council candidate David Bauer to organize a debate tonight, but could not get traction in time, according to Lee Godburn, former chairman of the Middletown Commission on the Arts and would-be debate moderator.

The Democratic party nominated Robert Blanchard, Paul Turenne and incumbent Daniel Russo at its party caucus.

Bauer had offered an hour of his air time to hold the debate.

“The three endorsed candidates said they couldn’t do it, or wouldn’t do it,” said Godburn. He said he didn’t think it made sense to go forward with just Devoto on the program.

“I didn’t agree to the debate, I wouldn’t participate in a debate that was put together by Republicans,” incumbent Commissioner and nominee for re-election Daniel Russo told the Press. “To me, this just shows that Steve Devoto is not a Democrat.”

“I would never participate in anything put together by Mr. Devoto and his Republican friends.”

Devoto said he has endorsed Republicans Molly Salafia, Deb Kleckowsi and Sebastian Giuliano, as well as Democrat Ed McKeon, in the Wesleyan Argus.

Devoto has suggested that the Planning and Zoning Commission consider more proactive zoning changes rather than react to developer’s proposals, but Russo said the city has had effective zoning in the past and the present configuration of the town’s zones reflects that.

“The commission periodically reviews the plan of development, which has been followed consistently for years,” said Russo. “We have an effective pattern of planning and zoning.”

“The reason taxes are reasonable, or moderate, in Middletown, and the services are quite good,” said Russo, “is we have a balanced tax base.” He said the intersection of residential, commercial and industrial taxpayers was necessary to that balance.

Robert Blanchard, an executive aide to Attorney General George Jepsen, said he only heard about the possibility of a debate with three days’ notice.

“It seems like it’s a publicity stunt, a cheap trick that he would try to throw it together late on a Friday night on public access,” said Blanchard, but that a planning and zoning debate would be good for Middletown, since the issues sometimes “get buried” under mayoral and other races.

Bauer said that he too was hoping to be of service in educating the city on zoning issues, especially given the looming prospect or riverfront redevelopment, and that he wasn’t necessarily a man behind a curtain. “I think that my role was overstated,” said Bauer, who had volunteered as timekeeper.

“The only sense that I’m looking for publicity is, I think the planning and zoning process should be transparent and open and the voters should have a chance to see as much of it as possible,” said Devoto. He said that the zoning board and the Board of Education are critically important to residents.

Both Devoto and Blanchard expressed interest in the possibility of a different debate, but nothing is scheduled.